Total hip replacement surgical guide tool

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hip replacement surgery. The surgical guide tool may include a customized mating region and a resection guide. The customized mating region and the resection guide are referenced to each other such that, when the customized mating region matingly engages a surface area of a proximal femur, the resection guide will be aligned to guide a resectioning of the proximal femur along a preoperatively planned resection plane.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/391,008 filed Feb. 23, 2009, which application claims benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to: U.S. Patent Application 61/032,671,entitled Hip Resurfacing Surgical Guide Tool and filed Feb. 29, 2008;U.S. Patent Application 61/108,761, entitled Hip Resurfacing SurgicalGuide Tool and filed Oct. 27, 2008; and U.S. Patent Application61/111,238, entitled Total Hip Replacement Surgical Guide Tool and filedNov. 4, 2008. The foregoing applications are hereby incorporated byreference into the present application in their entireties.

The present application also incorporates by reference in its entiretyU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/390,667, filed Feb. 23, 2009, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,734,455 entitled Hip Resurfacing Surgical Guide Tool.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to medical apparatus and methods. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to total hip replacementsurgical guide tools and methods of manufacturing and using such tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Arthroplasty is an orthopedic surgical procedure in which adysfunctional or arthritic joint surface is replaced, remodeled orredesigned to alleviate pain, restore range of motion or to fix physicaljoint damage caused by a fracture. Total Hip Replacement (“THR”)surgery, also known as hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure whereinthe proximal femur, with its femoral head and neck, is removed and aprosthetic device (or stem) having a prosthetic femoral head isimplanted into the femur. The acetabulum, or hip socket, is alsoreplaced or modified to accept a cup. The cup is configured to receivethe prosthetic head. The prosthetic device (or stem) is typically madeof titanium or a titanium alloy. The head may be made of a biocompatibleplastic, ceramic or other suitable material. The cup may be made of abiocompatible plastic or other suitable material. The prosthetic deviceand the cup are typically anchored to the bone with bone cement.

Typically, in THR, the surgeon will take a number of measurements byhand or x-ray scan related to proper selection of the prosthetic device,limb length, and hip rotation. During surgery, after making an incision,the femur is pushed out of socket to expose the joint cavity and thedeteriorated or damaged femoral head is removed. The femur is thenprepared to receive the stem by cleaning and enlarging the hollow centerportion of the bone, thereby creating a cavity that matches the shape ofthe implant stem. The top end of the femur is planed and smoothed so thestem can be inserted flush with the bone surface. If the head is aseparate piece, the proper size is selected and attached. Finally, thehead is seated within the cup so the joint is properly aligned and theincision is closed.

Hand measuring techniques and x-ray scans are inaccurate and increasethe error rate or potential for error in a THR, and may lead to animproperly positioned prosthetic device. Improper positioning of theprosthetic device can result in a change of leg length, dislocation ofthe hip or perforation of the femur.

There is a need in the art for a total hip replacement surgical guidetool to aid in properly positioning the prosthetic device that reducesthe potential for error and improper positioning in a THR. There is alsoa need in the art for a method of manufacturing such a surgical guidetool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a tool for positioning a prosthetic device in afemur that is the subject of a total hip replacement surgery. In oneembodiment, the tool includes an index surface and a saw slot. The indexsurface is configured to matingly receive a predetermined surface of thefemur. The index surface and the saw slot are integrated with each othersuch that when the index surface matingly receives the predeterminedsurface of the femur, the saw slot corresponds with the resection planeof the femur.

Disclosed herein is surgical guide tool for use in the preparation of aproximal portion of a femur for the implantation of a total hipreplacement prosthetic implant, the implant including a featureconfigured to abut against a resection surface of the proximal femurwhen the implant is fully implanted in the proximal femur in a mannerthat generally replicates a preoperatively planned implantation for theimplant. In one embodiment, the tool includes a mating region and a sawguide. When the mating region matingly contacts the proximal portion,the saw guide is aligned with a resection plane generally correspondingto the resection surface. In one version of the embodiment, the sawguide includes at least one planar surface. In one version of theembodiment, the at least one planar surface forms a saw slot.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck. The atleast a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck startsbetween approximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mm after a cartilagecovering the head terminates distally and extending betweenapproximately 15 mm and approximately 35 mm towards a trochantericfossa. In version of the embodiment, the saw guide includes at least oneplanar surface. In one version of the embodiment, the at least a portionof a superior-posterior region of the neck has an inferior border thatbegins approximately midway along an intertrochanteric crest and followsalong the axis of the neck. In one version of the embodiment, the atleast a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck has asuperior border between approximately 1 mm and approximately 3 mm belowa junction between superior and anterior surfaces of the neck.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck. The atleast a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck includes anarrow band that follows along an intertrochanteric crest and has amedial-lateral width of between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 8mm. In one version of the embodiment, the saw guide includes at leastone planar surface. In one version of the embodiment, the at least aportion of a superior-posterior region of the neck begins approximatelymidway along the intertrochanteric crest and extends at leastapproximately 5 mm towards a most superior tip of a posterior surface ofa greater trochanter.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a superior-anterior region of the neck. The atleast a portion of a superior-anterior region of the neck starts betweenapproximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mm after a cartilage covering thehead terminates distally and extends between approximately 15 mm andapproximately 35 mm to terminate before a tubercle. In one version ofthe embodiment, the saw guide includes at least one planar surface. Inone version of the embodiment, the at least a portion of asuperior-anterior region of the neck has a superior border approximately1 mm to approximately 3 mm below a junction between superior andanterior surfaces of the neck. The at least a portion of asuperior-anterior region of the neck may have an inferior border that isbetween approximately 5 mm and approximately 10 mm from the superiorboarder. In one version of the embodiment, the at least a portion of asuperior-anterior region of the neck lies on an anterior greatertrochanter, distal to a tubercle, and inferior to an origin of anobturator internus. The at least a portion of a superior-anterior regionmay have a medial-lateral distance that measures between approximately 3mm to approximately 14 mm. The at least a portion of a superior-anteriorregion may have an inferior-superior distance that measures betweenapproximately 3 mm to approximately 10 mm.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a superior-posterior region of the neck and atleast a portion of a superior-anterior region of the neck, but does notinclude a junction between the superior-posterior and superior-anteriorregions of the neck. In one version of the embodiment, the saw guideincludes at least one planar surface. In one version of the embodiment,the at least a portion of the superior-posterior region of the neckincludes an area that extends along the intertrochanteric chest, butdoes not include an area that spans portions of a trochanteric fossa.The at least a portion of a superior-anterior region of the neck may layon an anterior greater trochanter, distal to a tubercle, and inferior toan origin of an obturator internus, but does not include portions of thetubercle.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a posterior region of the neck. The at least aportion of the posterior region of the neck includes an area thatextends towards a trochanteric fossa between approximately 15 mm andapproximately 35 mm from a first point being between approximately 1 mmand approximately 5 mm distal of a distal termination of a cartilagecovering the head. In one version of the embodiment, the saw guideincludes at least one planar surface. In one version of the embodiment,the at least a portion of a posterior region of the neck has an inferiorborder that terminates up to approximately 5 mm superior to a borderbetween posterior and inferior surfaces of the neck. In one version ofthe embodiment, the at least a portion of a posterior region of the neckhas a superior border that terminates approximately 0 mm toapproximately 5 mm posterior of a border between posterior and anteriorsurfaces of the neck. In one version of the embodiment, the at least aportion of a posterior region of the neck extends along anintertrochanteric crest from a lesser trochanter to a point near a tipof a greater trochanter. The at least a portion of a posterior region ofthe neck does not include at least one of a portion of the trochantericfossa and a portion of posterior region of the greater trochanter.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a posterior region of the neck. The at least aportion of the posterior region of the neck includes an area thatincludes a narrow band measuring between approximately 0.5 mm andapproximately 12 mm and following along an intertrochanteric crest. Inone version of the embodiment, the saw guide includes at least oneplanar surface. In one version of the embodiment, the narrow band beginsapproximately 0 mm to approximately 12 mm superior to a lessertrochanter. The narrow band may extend approximately 0 mm toapproximately 18 mm inferior to a most superior tip of a posteriorsurface of a greater trochanter.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a posterior region of the neck. The at least aportion of the posterior region of the neck includes an area thatextends towards a trochanteric fossa from a first point being betweenapproximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mm distal of a distal terminationof a cartilage covering the head, but does not include an area spanningportions of the trochanteric fossa. In one version of the embodiment,the saw guide includes at least one planar surface. In one version ofthe embodiment, The tool of claim 32, wherein the area spanning portionsof the trochanteric fossa has a width generally transverse to a femorallongitudinal axis of between approximately 0 mm and approximately 20 mm.In one version of the embodiment, the at least a portion of theposterior region of the neck further includes an area that includes aband following along an intertrochanteric crest, but does not includeportions of a posterior greater trochanter. In one version of theembodiment, the portion of the posterior greater trochanter has adistally extending dimension of between approximately 0 mm andapproximately 12 mm.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of an anterior region of the neck. The at least aportion of an anterior region of the neck extends up to approximately 8mm laterally past an intertrochanteric line. In one version of theembodiment, the saw guide includes at least one planar surface. In oneversion of the embodiment, the surface region includes a medial surfaceof a greater trochanter.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur having a head, aneck extending distally from the head, and a surface region distal thehead. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body including a saw guideand a mating region configured to matingly contact the surface region.The saw guide and mating region are positioned relative to each other sothe saw guide is positioned to guide a resection that generallycorresponds to a preoperatively planned resection plane when the matingregion matingly contacts the surface region. The surface region includesat least a portion of a lateral posterior greater trochanter. In oneversion of the embodiment, the saw guide includes at least one planarsurface. In one version of the embodiment, the surface region furtherincludes at least a portion of a medial posterior greater trochanter.The surface region may not include at least a portion of anintertrochanteric crest. In one version of the embodiment, the surfaceregion further includes at least a portion of a posterior region of theneck. The surface region does not include at least a portion of atrochanteric fossa. In one version of the embodiment, the surface regionfurther includes at least a portion of a medial posterior greatertrochanter and at least a portion of a posterior region of the neck, andwherein the surface region does not include at least a portion of anintertrochanteric crest and does not include at least a portion of antrochanteric fossa.

Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hipreplacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femur. In one embodiment,the tool includes a mating region and a saw guide. The mating regionmatingly contacts the proximal portion. The saw guide is generallyaligned with a preoperatively planned resection plane. In one version ofthe embodiment, the saw guide includes at least one planar surface. Theat least one planar surface may form a saw slot. In one version of theembodiment, the mating region includes contact surfaces and non-contactsurfaces, wherein, when the mating region matingly contacts the proximalportion, the contact surfaces matingly contact surfaces of the proximalportion opposing the contact surfaces, and the non-contact surfaces arespaced apart from surfaces of the proximal portion opposing thenon-contact surfaces. The non-contact surfaces may be a result of anoverestimation process.

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a surgical guide tool foruse in total hip replacement surgery on a proximal portion of a femurhaving a head, a neck extending distally from the head, and a surfaceregion distal the head. In one embodiment, the method include: a)generating medical imaging data associated with the proximal portion ofthe femur; b) employing the imaging data to generate a three-dimensionalcomputer-generated femur model of the proximal portion of the femur; c)providing a three-dimensional computer-generated implant model; d)providing a three-dimensional computer-generated tool model of at leasta portion of at least a surgical guide tool and a surgical guide toolblank; e) superimposing the femur model and implant model; f)superimposing the tool model with the superimposed femur model andimplant model; g) computer generating manufacturing instructions fromdata determined from step f; and h) employing the manufacturinginstructions at a manufacturing machine to generate the surgical guidetool.

In one version of the embodiment, the surgical guide tool is generatedfrom a surgical guide tool blank. In one version of the embodiment, theimplant model includes a shaft portion and a head portion. Superimposingthe femur model and implant model may include: causing a center of thehead of the implant model to generally coincide with a center of a headof the femur model; and causing the shaft of the implant model togenerally align with a shaft of the femur model.

In one version of the embodiment, superimposing the tool model with thesuperimposed femur model and implant model includes causing thesuperimposed location of the tool model to generally correspond to atool position to be employed by a selected surgical approach. In oneversion of the embodiment, the method further includes providing atleast one of a three-dimensional computer generated sphere model and acomputer generated rod model and at least one of: superimposing thesphere model with the femur model so a center of the sphere model iscaused to generally coincide with a center of a head of the femur model;and superimposing the rod model with the femur model so the rod model iscaused to generally align with a shaft of the femur model. Superimposingthe femur model and implant model may include at least one of: causing acenter of the head of the implant model to generally coincide with thecenter of the sphere model; and causing the shaft of the implant modelto generally align with the rod model.

In one version of the embodiment, the medical imaging data is generatedvia at least one of MRI and CT. In one version of the embodiment, themanufacturing machine is at least one of a CNC machine and a SLA.

In one version of the embodiment, the method further includes subjectingthe medical imaging data to a segmentation process that determines bonecontour lines and then adjusting the bone contour lines outward inlocations of the bone contour lines corresponding to regions of theproximal portion of the femur that have surface topography that isunlikely to be accurately replicated during at least one of athree-dimensional computer modeling process and generating the tool viathe machine. The surface topography may be at least one of highly variedand too small to be manufactured into the tool. The method may furtherinclude employing the adjusted bone contour lines to generate thethree-dimensional computer-generated femur model of the proximal portionof the femur. The regions of the proximal portion of the femur that havesurface topography that is unlikely to be accurately replicated mayinclude at least one of a portion of a tubercle and a portion of asuperior intersection between anterior and posterior regions of theneck. The regions of the proximal portion of the femur that have surfacetopography that is unlikely to be accurately replicated may include atleast one of a portion of a trochanteric fossa and a portion of asuperior intersection between anterior and posterior regions of theneck. The regions of the proximal portion of the femur that have surfacetopography that is unlikely to be accurately replicated may include atleast one of a portion of a trochanteric fossa and a portion of aposterior greater trochanter near an intertrochanteric crest. Theregions of the proximal portion of the femur that have surfacetopography that is unlikely to be accurately replicated may include atleast one of a portion of a trochanteric fossa and a portion of anintertrochanteric crest.

In one version of the embodiment, the data determined from step fincludes a resection plane corresponding to a planar surface of a spacerregion of the implant model. The data determined from step f may furtherinclude a mating surface corresponding to a region of the femur modelcontacted by the tool model. The mating surface and resection plane maybe positionally referenced to each other. The mating surface andresection plane may be respectively used to define an indexing surfaceand a saw guide in the tool, the indexing surface and saw guide beingconfigured such that, when the indexing surface matingly contacts theproximal femur, the saw guide will be positioned to facilitate aresection of the proximal femur corresponding to a preoperativelyplanned resection.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following Detailed Description, which shows and describesillustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, theinvention is capable of modifications in various aspects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded asillustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic depiction of a system for preoperativelyplanning and manufacturing a surgical guide tool as described herein.

FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic depiction of the preoperative planningprocess, beginning with the generation of the 2D medical images andending with the manufacturing instructions being sent to the CNCmachine.

FIG. 1C is a flow chart extending from the generation of the 2D medicalimages, through the preoperative planning and manufacturing of the tool,and finishing with the tool being employed in the arthroplastyprocedure.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a surgical guide tool matingly engagedwith a proximal femur having a femoral head and neck.

FIG. 2B is a side top isometric view of the surgical guide tool of FIG.2A, wherein the tool is in a non-customized state or is in the form of ablank from which a customized tool is generated via an automatedmanufacturing machine, such as, for example, a CNC milling machine.

FIG. 2C is a front view of the surgical guide tool of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2D is a side view of the surgical guide tool of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2E is a top plan view of the surgical guide tool of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2F is the same view as FIG. 2B, except the tool is in thecustomized state depicted in FIG. 2A and a saw slot is shown.

FIG. 2G is a side bottom isometric view of a version of the tooldepicted in FIG. 2F, except the tool of FIG. 2G employs a planar surfaceas the saw guide in place of the saw slot depicted in FIG. 2F, themating region of the tool of FIG. 2G being configured to engage themating region of the femur depicted in FIG. 13.

FIG. 2H is a cross section taken through section line 2H-2H, whichextends generally posterior-anterior in FIG. 2A, except employing theversion of the tool depicted in FIG. 2G.

FIG. 2I is a view similar to FIG. 2G, except of a tool with a matingregion configured to matingly engage the mating region of the femurdepicted in FIGS. 14A-14B.

FIG. 2J is the same view as 2G, except of a tool with a mating regionconfigured to matingly engage the mating region of the femur depicted inFIG. 15.

FIG. 3 is a posterior view of a 3D computer generated model of theproximal femur, including its femoral head, neck and greater trochanter,illustrating the angle Z at which the bone scan is sectioned.

FIG. 4A is a 3D view of the proximal femur of FIG. 2A, illustrating asection line A at which the bone is sectioned during a CT scan to helpcreate a cortical bone model and trabecular bone model.

FIG. 4B is a CT slice as taken along section line A of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 5A is a 3D view of the proximal femur of FIG. 2A, illustrating asection line B at which the bone is sectioned during a CT scan to helpcreate a cortical bone model and trabecular bone model.

FIG. 5B is a CT slice as taken along section line B of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a 3D view of the proximal femur of FIG. 2A, illustrating asection line C at which the bone is sectioned during a CT scan to helpcreate a cortical bone model and trabecular bone model.

FIG. 6B is a CT slice as taken along section line C of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is an example superior view CT scan of the proximal femur,wherein the correct coronal alignment for CT reconstruction is shown.

FIG. 8 is an example CT scan of the proximal femur, wherein the correctalignment for the final CT reconstruction is shown.

FIG. 9A is a transparent posterior view of a model of the proximal femurof FIG. 2A, wherein a sphere model and a rod model are shown.

FIG. 9B is a transparent superior view of the models depicted in FIG.9A.

FIG. 9C is the same view as FIG. 9A, except a femoral component model isalso shown.

FIG. 10 is an isometric posterior view of a model of the femur of FIG.2A, wherein the surgical guide tool blank model is shown positioned onthe femur.

FIG. 11 is an isometric inferior-posterior view of the model of thefemur and the surgical guide tool blank model, wherein the distal end ofthe tool model is highlighted to illustrate a portion of the tool thatmay be removed for proper exposure of the greater trochanter.

FIG. 12 is a transparent view of the femoral component model, model ofthe femur, and the model of the customized surgical guide tool properlysuperimposed relative to each other.

FIG. 13 is a posterior medial view of the proximal femur of FIG. 2Ashowing the regions of the femur that are mated with the index surfacesof an embodiment of the tool and the regions that correspond toover-estimated or non-contacting surfaces of the tool.

FIGS. 14A-14B are, respectively, posterior and anterior views of theproximal femur, wherein the mating region of the femur may beappropriate for a posterior or anteriorlateral surgical approach.

FIG. 15 is an isometric posterior view of the proximal femur andillustrates yet another mating region of the femur that may be used todefine the mating region of another embodiment of the tool configuredfor a posterior surgical approach.

FIGS. 16A-16B are, respectively, posterior and anterior views of theproximal femur, wherein the mating region of the femur may beappropriate for a posterior or anteriorlateral surgical approach.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Overview of Tool and its Methods of Planning, Manufacturing and Use

The present disclosure describes a customized surgical guide tool 5 foruse in total hip replacement surgery (“THR”). In one embodiment, thecustomized surgical guide tool 5 may be preoperatively planned viathree-dimensional (“3D”) computer modeling procedures such that, whenthe tool 5 is matingly engaged with the proximal femur 40 of thepatient, a resection guided by the tool 5 will result in a desiredresection that will allow a femoral prosthetic implant or component 800to be implanted in the femur 40 as planned during the preoperativeplanning.

In one embodiment, the tool 5 may include a single-piece construction, afastener receiving feature 1710, a customized saw guide 1725, and acustomized indexing or mating region 20 having customized indexing ormating surfaces 708 a, 710 a. The fastener receiving feature 1710 may beused to receive an anchor that may secure the tool 5 in matingengagement with the proximal femur 40.

The mating region 20 and its mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a may beconfigured such that, when the mating region 20 matingly receivestherein a region of the proximal femur 40 having predetermined bonesurfaces 708, 710, the mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the mating region20 of the tool 5 will matingly contact the predetermined bone surfaces708, 710 on the proximal femur 40. The mating region 20 may also includenon-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a that correspond to surfaces ofproximal femur 40 that are within the region of the femur engaged by thetool mating region 20 and that have surface topography of such variationthat it is difficult to accurately scan or computer model or too smallto manufacture into the tool mating region. These non-contactingsurfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool mating region 20 may be the result ofan overestimation process during image segmentation and will be spacedapart in a non-contacting fashion from the adjacent femur surfaces whenthe tool mating region 20 matingly receives the femur 40.

The saw guide 1725 may be a slot, planar surface, or other featurecapable of guiding a saw blade during a sawing procedure. The saw guide1725 may be positioned and oriented relative to the customized mating orindexing region 20 such that, when the mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a ofthe mating region 20 matingly contact the bone surfaces 708, 710 whenthe tool mating region 20 matingly receives therein the region of thefemur 40 having the bone surfaces 708, 710, the saw guide 1725 may beoriented over the femur neck 35 such that the saw guide 1725 correspondswith a desired resection plane 805 through the femoral neck 35 that wasidentified during the preoperative planning. The resection plane 805 maycorrespond with a spacer region 801 of the femoral prosthetic implant orcomponent 800 that limits the extent to which the femoral component maybe inserted into the resected proximal femur during implantation.

When the mating or indexing surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the mating region20 of the tool 5 matingly contact the bone surfaces 708, 710 as themating region 20 mating receives the region of the femur including thebone surfaces 708, 710, a saw extending through the saw slot 1725 willbe caused to saw through the femur neck 35 at the desired andpreoperatively planned resection plane 805, thereby creating a resectedportion of the neck 35 that is configured to receive an implantedfemoral component 800 in a manner that replicates the preoperativelyplanned implant position and alignment. Once the femur resection iscompleted with the tool 5 and the femur is further prepped as needed,the femoral component 800, which may be selected based on theinformation obtained during the preoperative planning, may then beinserted into the resected proximal femur 40.

As stated above, in some embodiments, the tool 5 may have a single-piececonstruction, which may increase the accuracy associated with theresectioning process by minimizing tolerance errors normally associatedwith multi-piece, multi-joint, conventional guide tools. In otherembodiments, the tool 5 may have a multi-piece construction. Forexample, the saw slot 1725 may be in the form of a separate guide thatis mounted on the rest of the tool 5 in an indexed manner, the rest ofthe tool 5 having the customized mating region having the customizedmating surfaces.

The guide tool 5 aids the surgeon in accurately implanting the femoralcomponent 800 during a THR according to an alignment and positiondetermined during preoperative planning. Specifically, the tool 5, oncematingly engaged with the proximal femur, may guide the resection of theproximal femur according to a resection plane identified during thepreoperative planning. Accurate implant alignment and position isimportant because an improperly positioned and aligned femoral component800 may result in a change of leg length, dislocation of the hip orperforation of the femur.

Furthermore, because the tool 5 is configured to generally automaticallyprovide an appropriate resection through the femur neck for a properalignment of the femoral component upon causing the indexing region 20to matingly receive the region of the femur having the bone surfaces708, 710, the time and effort required by the surgeon to properlyprepare the femur for the implantation of the femoral component 800 issubstantially minimized. Thus, use of the tool 5 may reduce the overalltime spent in surgery. The reduction in the time spent in surgery mayreduce the patient's chances of infection.

In some embodiments, a three dimensional (“3D”) model of the patient'sproximal femur 40 is computer generated from two dimensional (“2D”)medical imaging slices 500 (e.g., CT slices, MRI slices, etc.) taken ofthe patient's proximal femur 40. A sphere 3D computer model 701 and arod 3D computer model 702 may be respectively aligned with the femoralhead 30 and medullary canal 170 or the central axis 100 of the femurshaft of the femur 3D computer model 1040 to approximate the positioningof the femoral component 800 relative to the center of the hip joint703. A 3D model of the femoral component 800 may be selected from adatabase of 3D models of candidate femoral component 800. The selected3D model of the femoral component may be aligned with the 3D model ofthe femur 40 and the sphere and rod models 701, 702 such that thecomponent head is generally centered with the center of the sphere modeland the component shaft is generally coaxial with the rod model.

A 3D model of a blank of the tool 5 may be positioned on the femurmodel, which is still aligned with the sphere, rod and femoral componentmodels 701, 702, 800. The resection plane may be determined from thelocation of a spacer region surface or distal end 803 of a spacer region801 of the femoral component 800 and used to define a saw slot 1725 inthe 3D model of the blank of the tool 5. The 3D model of the femur isanalyzed to determine shape and location of the mating or indexing femursurfaces 708, 710. The shape and location of the surfaces 708, 710 maybe used to define corresponding mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a in themating region 20 of the 3D model of the blank of the tool 5. Theindexing surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the mating region 20, the saw slot1725, and the orientation relationships between the surfaces 708 a, 710a and the saw slot 1725 may be imported into the 3D computer generatedmodel of the blank of the tool 5. As the 3D femur model, 3D spheremodel, 3D rod model and 3D tool blank model are superimposed relative toeach other in the above-described orientation and positioning, thesurfaces 708 a, 710 a and saw slot 1725 end up being defined andimported into the 3D tool blank model such that a resulting tool 5 willposition the saw slot 1725 to create the preoperatively plannedresection in the femur when the mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a of themating region 20 matingly contact the femur surfaces 708, 710 when themating region 20 matingly receives the region of the femur having thefemur surfaces 708, 710. The resulting 3D model of the blank of the tool5 may be used to generate manufacturing instructions (e.g., machiningpaths, etc.), which are sent to an automated manufacturing device, suchas a CNC machine, a stereolithography apparatus (“SLA”), etc. to mill orotherwise manufacture an actual tool 5 from an actual tool blank 50.

As can be understood from the preceding discussion and as discussed ingreater detail below, by superimposing a 3D computer generated model ofthe patient's proximal femur 40 with the 3D computer generated models ofthe femoral component 800, sphere, and rod, the proper placement andalignment of the femoral component 800 through the proximal femur 40 canbe preoperatively planned with a great degree of accuracy. Also, bysuperimposing the 3D computer generated model of the blank of the tool 5with the superimposed 3D computer generated models of the patient'sfemur 40 and the femoral component 800, the relationships between thesemodels can be analyzed to determine the location and orientation of thesaw guide 1725, the location and shape of the indexing surfaces 708 a,710 a of the mating region 20, and the positional relationship betweenthe saw guide 1725 and indexing surfaces 708 a, 710 a, all of which canbe imported into the 3D computer generated model of the blank of thetool 5 to define such features into the 3D model of the tool blank.

The resulting 3D computer generated model of the blank of the tool 5 maythen be used as manufacturing instructions for the automated manufactureof a customized guide tool 5 having a saw guide 1725 that will result inthe preoperatively planned resection of the proximal femur 40 when thetool 5 is matingly engaged with the proximal femur such that theindexing surfaces 708 a, 710 a mating contact the predetermined femursurfaces 708, 710 when the tool mating region matingly receives theproximal femur 40. Thus, the resulting tool 5 is customized for thespecific patient via a preoperative planning process that employs a 3Dmodel of the patient's femur compiled from 2D medical images 500 takenof the patient's femur. The resulting tool 5 includes the “data”physically integrated therein that allows the tool 5 to matingly engagethe patient femur 40 and direct the resection of the femur as calculatedduring the preoperative planning process to facilitate a desiredpreoperatively planned position and orientation of the implanted femurcomponent 800.

II. Total Hip Replacement Surgical Guide Tool

For a detailed discussion of an embodiment of the surgical guide tool 5for use in a total hip replacement surgery, reference is made to FIGS.2A-2H. FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a surgical guide tool 5 matinglyengaged on a proximal femur 40 having a femoral head 30 and neck 35.FIG. 2B is a side top isometric view of the surgical guide tool 5 ofFIG. 2A, wherein the tool 5 is in a non-customized state or is in theform of a blank from which a customized tool 5 is generated via anautomated manufacturing machine, such as, for example, a CNC millingmachine. FIGS. 2C-2E are front, side and top plan views, respectively,of the tool 5 of FIG. 2B. FIG. 2F is the same view as FIG. 2B, exceptthe tool 5 is in the customized state depicted in FIG. 2A and a saw slot1725 is shown. FIG. 2G is a side bottom isometric view of a version ofthe tool 5 depicted in FIG. 2F, except the tool 5 of FIG. 2G employs aplanar surface 1725 as the saw guide 1725 in place of the saw slot 1725depicted in FIG. 2F, the mating region 20 of the tool 5 of FIG. 2G beingconfigured to engage the mating region of the femur 40 depicted in FIG.13. FIG. 2H is a cross section taken through section line 2H-2H, whichextends generally posterior-anterior in FIG. 2A, except employing theversion of the tool 5 depicted in FIG. 2G.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2H, in one embodiment, the surgical guidetool 5 includes a proximal or head end 1745, a distal or greatertrochanter end 1750, a top side 1755 and a bottom side 1760. As can beunderstood from FIGS. 2B-2E, in a non-customized state, the bottom side1760 and the top side 1755 are generally arcuately shaped. As shown inFIG. 2E, in one embodiment, the width of the tool 5 may graduallyincrease from the proximal end 1745 to the distal end 1750. The ends1745, 1750 are formed or otherwise joined together via the bottom side1760 and top side 1755 such that the tool 5 may be a single-piece toolhaving a single-piece construction that is generally unitary andcontinuous in nature. In other embodiments, the tool 5 may have amulti-piece construction, for example, where the saw guide is mounted asa separate and independent piece on the rest of the tool that includesthe mating region. The tool 5 may be made of polyoxymethylene (acetalresin), a low density polyethylene, or other biocompatible plastics.

As can be understood from FIGS. 2F-2H, portions of the bottom side 1760and the top side 1755 may include a customizable mating or indexingregion 20 that may have mating contact surfaces 708 a, 710 a andnon-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a defined therein. The mating orindexing region 20 may be adapted to matingly receive regions of theproximal femur 40 having mating contact surfaces 708, 710 andnon-contacting surfaces 718, 720 such as those discussed in detail laterthis Detailed Description with respect to FIG. 13 or similar to thosediscussed in detail with respect to FIGS. 14A-16B.

For example, as can be understood from FIGS. 2A, 2G, 2H and 13, theregion of the femur 40, which may be matingly received by the toolmating region 20 when the tool 5 is mounted on the femur 40, may includea mating contact surface 708 covering portions of the posterior regionof the neck 35 and a mating contact surface 710 that is a narrow bandfollowing along the intertrochanteric crest 116. Since the tool 5 iscustomized to fit the patient's specific bone geometry, the matingcontact surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the tool mating region 20 may beconfigured to matingly contact the mating contact surfaces 708, 710 ofthe femur 40 when the tool mating region 20 matingly receives thereinthe region of the femur that has the mating contact surfaces 708, 710.The femur surfaces 708, 710 to be mated or indexed by the tool mating orindex surfaces 708 a, 710 a may be separated by non-contacting surfaces718, 720 of the femur 40. The non-contacting surfaces 718, 720 of thefemur 40 may be spanned in a spaced-apart, non-contacting arrangement bynon-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool mating region 20 whenthe tool mating region 20 matingly receives the region of the femur 40including the non-contacting surfaces 718, 720 and the tool matingsurfaces 708 a, 710 a matingly contact the femur contacting surfaces708, 710. The non-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool matingregion 20 may be the result of an over-estimating process occurringduring image segmentation as described later in this DetailedDescription. As can be understood from FIG. 13, the non-mating surfaces718, 720 of the proximal femur 40 may include portions 718 of theposterior greater trochanter 115 and portions 720 of the trochantericfossa 210 (i.e., the depression between the greater trochanter and thefemur neck).

As shown in FIGS. 2B-2E, the top side 1755 may include afastener-receiving feature 1710. The fastener-receiving feature 1710 maybe generally ring shaped and may include a hole 1715 extending axiallytherethrough. In one embodiment, the top side 1755 includes onefastener-receiving feature 1710. In some embodiments, the top side 1755includes more than one fastener-receiving feature 1710. The fastenerreceiving feature 1710 is configured to receive a fastener 1716 throughthe hole 1715, thereby securing the tool 5 to the femur 40 when theindexing surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the tool mating region 20 matinglycontact the corresponding bone surfaces 708, 710. In some embodiments,the top face does not include a fastener receiving feature 1710 and thetool is secured by other methods, such as being held in place by thesurgeon. The fastener 1716 may be a pin, screw or other suitable device.

As can be understood from FIGS. 2F and 2G, in a customized state, thetop side 1755 may also include a saw guide 1725 that is configured toreceive a saw blade during a THR. The saw guide 1725 may be in the formof a planar surface, a slot or any other feature capable of guiding asaw during a resection. In one embodiment, the saw slot 1725 isgenerally an open-ended rectangle and extends axially through the tool 5from the top side 1755 to the bottom side 1760. In some embodiments, thesaw slot 1725 may extend across the entire width of the neck 35 suchthat the surgeon may make a complete resection of the neck. In someembodiments, the saw slot 1725 may extend at least partially across thewidth of the neck such that the surgeon may make a partial neckresection.

As will be discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG. 12, thesaw slot 1725 may be positioned in the tool 5 such that the slot 1725 isaligned with a preoperatively planned resection plane 805, as determinedby 3D modeling. The resection plane 805 may correspond with a spacerregion 801 of the femoral prosthetic implant or component 800 thatlimits the extent to which the femoral component may be inserted intothe resected proximal femur during implantation. The resection plane 805defines the location of the head and neck resection during surgery.Thus, when a saw blade is inserted into the saw slot 1725, thesubsequent cut through the neck 35 of the proximal femur 40 will exposea portion of the neck 35 for receipt of the femoral component 800.Because the location of the saw slot 1725 is determined based onpreoperative planning employing 3D models of the patient's femur and thespecific implant 800 to employed in the THR, the subsequent cut throughthe neck is positioned to expose a portion of the neck aligned toreceive the femoral component 800 such that the femoral component 800may be accurately positioned upon insertion into the femur.

III. System for Planning and Manufacture of Tool

The above-described customized guide tool 5 may be designed andmanufactured employing a system 4 similar to that schematically depictedin FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, the system 4 may include a preoperativeplanning system 6 in the form of a computer 6 having a CPU 7, a monitoror screen 9 and operator interface controls 11, such as a keyboard,mouse, etc. The computer 6 may be linked to a medical imaging system 8,such as a CT or MRI machine 8, and an automated or rapid manufacturingmachine 10, such as a stereolithography apparatus (“SLA”) or a computernumerical controlled (“CNC”) milling machine 10. The imaging machine 8,the manufacturing machine 10, and the modeling system 6 of the system 4may be in communication with each other via, for example, hardwire,internet, wireless, portable memory devices or any combination thereof.

The medical imaging machine 8 may be employed to generate medical images500 of the joint 14 of the patient 12 that is the subject of thearthroplasty. While this Detailed Description is given in the context ofthe joint 14 being a hip joint 14 and the tool 5 being configured forthe preparation of the proximal femur 40 to receive a total hipreplacement prosthetic implant, the concepts disclosed herein may bereadily applicable to arthroplasty for other types of joints, including,for example, ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders, vertebra,fingers, toes, etc. Any resulting 2D medical images 500 may be sent tothe computer 6 for use in the preoperative planning.

During preoperative planning, an operator may view the various 3Dcomputer generated models, such as the femur model 1040 and others, viathe monitor 11 as the operator interacts with the computer 6 via thecontrols 11 to direct the preoperative planning. Computer programs forcreating, storing and manipulating the various 3D computer generatedmodels may be stored in computer memory accessible by the CPU 7.Computer programs for creating the 3D computer generated bone model 1040from the 2D images 500 include: Analyze from AnalyzeDirect, Inc.,Overland Park, Kans.; Insight Toolkit, an open-source software availablefrom the National Library of Medicine Insight Segmentation andRegistration Toolkit (“ITK”), www.itk.org; 3D Slicer, an open-sourcesoftware available from www.slicer.org; Mimics from Materialise, AnnArbor, Mich.; and Paraview available at www.paraview.org.

Once the preoperative planning is completed, the resulting informationis used to create manufacturing instructions that are sent to theautomated manufacturing machine 10 to generate the final tool 5, whichin some embodiments, may be manufactured from a tool blank 50 placed inthe manufacturing machine 10.

IV. Medical Imaging, Image Segmentation and Generation of 3D Bone Model

For a detailed discussion regarding the medical imaging and imagesegmentation processes, reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C. FIG. 1B isa diagrammatic depiction of the tool planning process, beginning withthe generation of the 2D medical images 500 and ending with themanufacturing instructions being sent to the CNC machine 10. FIG. 1C isa flow chart extending from the generation of the 2D medical images 500,through the planning and manufacturing of the tool 5, and finishing withthe tool 5 being employed in the arthroplasty procedure.

As indicated in FIGS. 1A-1C, a patient 12 has a hip joint 14 that is thesubject of a THR surgery. The hip joint 14 of the patient 12 is scannedin the imaging machine 8 [block 1500 and block 1600]. In one embodiment,the scanning may include up to one-third of the proximal femur 40,including the femoral head 30 and the lesser trochanter 740. In otherembodiments, the scanning may include a greater or lesser portion of thefemur.

The resolution of a CT scan or an MRI scan is greater than theresolution of x-ray. Greater resolution leads to more accuracy in thepreoperative planning process, which leads to greater precision in theresulting tool 5. In some embodiments, the resolution of the scan isbetween approximately 0 mm and approximately 2 mm. In other embodiments,the resolution of the scan is between approximately 0.3 mm andapproximately 0.6 mm. In one embodiment, a CT scan with a resolution ofapproximately 0.6 mm is utilized for creation of the tool. In oneembodiment, a CT scan with a resolution of approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm,with a tube current ranging from 200 mA to 400 mA and a tube voltageranging from 120 kV to 140 kV and a direct field of view (“DFOV”)ranging from approximately 16 cm to approximately 26 cm is utilized forcreation of the tool.

As indicated in FIGS. 1A-1C, in performing the scanning process, theimaging machine 8 makes a plurality of scans of the joint 14, whereineach scan pertains to a thin 2D image slice 500 of the joint 14. Theplurality of 2D images 500, which may be CT, MRI or other 2D medicalimages, are sent from the imaging machine 8 to the preoperative planningsystem 6. The 2D images are subjected to an image segmentation process,wherein the bone contour lines 502 are identified in each of the images500 [block 1500 and block 1602].

In one embodiment, the bone surface contour lines of the femur 40depicted in the image slices 500 may be auto segmented via a imagesegmentation process as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 61/126,102,which was filed Apr. 30, 2008, is entitled System and Method for ImageSegmentation in Generating Computer Models of a Joint to UndergoArthroplasty, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the presentapplication in its entirety.

As can be understood from FIG. 3, which is a posterior view of a 3Dcomputer generated model of the proximal femur 40, including its femoralhead 30, neck 35 and greater trochanter 115, the bone scan may besectioned for the segmentation process at an angle Z. In other words, inone embodiment, image segmentation is performed utilizing image slicesor sections 500 at an angle Z off the central axis 100 of the femoralneck 35 viewed posteriorly. The segmentation can be done in several waysand for ease of the reader are described in relation to a CT-scan. Forexample, the during the CT scanning of the femur, the CT locator couldbe positioned at an angle Z to section the CT scan. Alternatively oradditionally, the CT scan could be sectioned at an angle Z duringpost-processing. In one embodiment, the angle Z is between approximatelythirty degrees and approximately sixty degrees. In an alternativeembodiment, the angle Z is approximately a 45 degree angle. It can beappreciated that segmentation of an MRI scan may be achieved in asimilar manner.

For a discussion of the bone contour lines that may be identified duringthe image segmentation process, reference is made to FIGS. 4A-6B. FIGS.4A, 5A and 6A are 3D views of the proximal femur 40 respectively showingsection or scan planes A, B and C extending through the femur 40. FIGS.4B, 5B and 6B are respectively the segmented image slices of planes A, Band C, respectively. As indicated in FIG. 4A, section or scan plane Aextends through the proximal femur generally transverse to the femoralaxis and just distal of the lesser trochanter. As shown in the resultingsegmented image slice depicted in FIG. 4B, the contour line 601corresponding to the cortical bone and the contour line 602corresponding to the trabecular bone 602 may be identified.

As indicated in FIG. 5A, section or scan plane B extends through theproximal femur generally transverse to the femoral axis andapproximately midway between the tip of the greater trochanter and thelesser trochanter. As shown in the resulting segmented image slicedepicted in FIG. 5B, the contour line 601 corresponding to the corticalbone and the contour line 602 corresponding to the trabecular bone 602may be identified.

As indicated in FIG. 6A, section or scan plane C extends through theproximal femur generally transverse to the femoral axis and just distalthe tip of the greater trochanter. As shown in the resulting segmentedimage slice depicted in FIG. 6B, the contour line 601 corresponding tothe cortical bone and the contour line 602 corresponding to thetrabecular bone 602 may be identified.

In one embodiment, as can be understood from FIG. 13, the region of thefemur 40, which may be matingly received by the tool mating region 20when the tool 5 is mounted on the femur 40, may include a mating contactsurface 708 covering portions of the posterior region of the neck 35 anda mating contact surface 710 that is a narrow band following along theintertrochanteric crest 116. The femur mating contact surfaces 708, 710may be separated by non-contacting surfaces 718, 720 of the femur 40.The non-contacting surfaces 718, 720 of the proximal femur 40 mayinclude portions 718 of the posterior greater trochanter 115 andportions 720 of the trochanteric fossa 210.

As can be understood from FIGS. 5A, 6A and 13, the portions 708P, 710Pof the cortical bone contour lines 601 in FIGS. 5B and 6B correspond tothe mating contact surfaces 708, 710 of the femur 40, and the portions718P, 720P of the cortical bone contour lines 601 in FIGS. 5B and 6Bcorrespond to the non-contact surfaces 718, 720 of the femur 40. As canbe understood from FIGS. 4A and 13, the cortical contour line 601depicted in FIG. 4B is from a slice that would be located below the toolmating regions of the femur 40. Therefore, this contour line 601depicted in FIG. 4B does not have portions 718P, 720P, 708P, 710P.

As can be understood from FIGS. 5B, 6B and 13, the non-contact portions718P, 720P of the cortical bone contour lines 601 correspond to surfaces718, 720 of the femur 40 that are difficult to replicate in the toolmating region 20 due to the extreme variance in surface topography forthe surfaces 718, 720. In addition to the difficult to replicatesurfaces 718, 720 depicted in FIG. 13, other difficult to replicatesurfaces that surfaces portions 718P, 720P may correspond to may includesurfaces of osteophytes or other bone surface irregularities. Thesurface topography variance for the surfaces 718, 720, the osteophytes,etc. may be such that: (1) corresponding regions of the tool matingregion 20 would be difficult to machine to correspond to the surfaces718, 720 of the femur 40 due to limitations in the milling process; or(2) the surfaces 718, 720 would be difficult to model because oflimitations in the scanning or 3D computer modeling processes.

The difficult to replicate contour line portions 718P, 720P may besubjected to an overestimation process. Specifically, the difficult toreplicate contour line portions 718P, 720P are modified to be extendedoutwardly away from the interior of the bone (i.e., over-estimated) and,in some instances smoothed with respect to shape. The resulting corticalbone contour lines 601 now include the original portions 708P, 710P intheir original shape and location and the now overestimated or outwardlyadjusted portions 718P, 720P; these resulting cortical bone contourlines 601 from each image slice are then compiled or reconstructed intothe 3D computer generated femur model 1040 used for the preoperativeplanning process.

The end result of the overestimation process with respect to themanufacture of the completed tool 5 is that the CNC tool pathscorresponding to the overestimated regions of the femur model 1040remove excess materials from the mating region 20 of the blank used toform the tool 5. Accordingly, the tool mating region 20 is configured tomatingly contact only with those surfaces 708, 710 of the femur that canbe accurately replicated in the tool mating region 20, and thosesurfaces 718, 720 that cannot be accurately replicated in the toolmating region 20 are not contacted by any surface of the tool matingregion 20 because the tool mating region 20 has been over-milled in theareas of the tool mating region 20 corresponding to the difficult toreplicate femur surfaces 718, 720. The result is a tool 5 with a matingregion 20 that accurately mates to the mating region of the femur 40.

In the above-described overestimation process, the line contours 601 forthe cortical bone may be subjected to overestimation while the linecontours 602 for the trabecular bone are not subjected tooverestimation. However, in other embodiments, the contour lines 601,602 for both the cortical and trabecular bones are subjected tooverestimation. The cortical bone contour lines 601 may be employed togenerate a 3D computer generated cortical bone model, and the trabecularbone contour lines 602 may be employed to generate a 3D computergenerated trabecular bone model. The cortical bone model and thetrabecular bone model may be combined into a single 3D computergenerated femur model 1040 [block 1501], as depicted in FIG. 9Adiscussed below. Specifically, as can be understood from FIG. 9A, whichis a posterior view of the femur model 1040, once the contour lines aresegmented and overestimated as described above, the contour lines may beimported into a 3D computer modeling program. The model program may thenbe used to generate 3D computer models of the cortical bone 601 and thetrabecular bone 602 of the proximal femur 40. The model of thetrabecular bone 602 may be subtracted from the model of the corticalbone 601 to create a hollow 3D computer generated femur model 1040,wherein the subtracted model of the trabecular bone 602 creates a hollowregion of the femur model 1040 that represents the medullary canal 170.

Overestimation processes are described in more detail in commonly-ownedU.S. Patent Application No. 61/083,053, entitled System and Method forManufacturing Arthroplasty Jigs Having Improved Mating Accuracy, filedJul. 23, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

When reconstructing the contour lines into the femur model 1040, certainalignments have been found to be advantageous. For example, as indicatedin FIG. 7, which is an example superior view CT scan of the proximalfemur 40 of FIG. 2A, the CT scan may be reconstructed for proper coronalalignment by causing the coronal slices to be parallel to the femoralneck 35. For this procedure, the slice width and overlap may range fromapproximately 0.5 mm to approximately 2 mm. In one embodiment, a slicewidth and overlap of 0.5 mm is used. The DFOV may range betweenapproximately 16 cm to approximately 26 cm field of view. In oneembodiment, the reformatted CT scan may include up to one-third of theproximal femur 40, including the femoral head 30 and the lessertrochanter 740. In other embodiments, the CT scan may include a greateror lesser amount of the proximal femur.

As indicated in FIG. 8, which is an example CT scan of the proximalfemur 40 of FIG. 2A, wherein the proper alignment for the final CTreconstruction is shown from a coronal slice. Specifically, the finalreconstruction alignment 1760 a is set to an angle Q relative to thelong axis 1761 of the femoral neck 35. Angle Q may range fromapproximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees. In one embodiment,angle Q is 45 degrees. The slice width and overlap may range fromapproximately 0.5 mm to approximately 2 mm. In one embodiment, the slicewidth and overlap is 1 mm. The field of view may range fromapproximately 16 mm to approximately 26 mm. In one embodiment, the scanmay include up to one-third of the proximal femur 40, including thefemoral head 30 and the lesser trochanter 740. In other embodiments, theCT scan may include a greater or lesser amount of the proximal femur.

V. Preoperative Planning of Tool

As can be understood from FIGS. 1A-1C and the immediately precedingdiscussion, once the medical images 500 are segmented to identify thebone contour lines 502 [block 1500 and block 1602], the contour linesare overestimated as necessary, and the contour lines are compiled orreconstructed into a 3D model of the femur via a computer modelingprogram [block 1501], the pre-operative planning process may begin[block 1604], wherein the 3D bone model is utilized to determine: (1)the proper size and placement of a femoral component (e.g. theprosthetic device that will be implanted in the femur); and (2) thelocation of the resection plane for resection of the femur head andneck, wherein the resection is made to allow for the implantation of thefemoral component in the resected femur. The following preoperativeplanning methods may employ a 3D computer modeling program, such as, forexample, Solidworks or Paraview, in the generation, placement,manipulation, determination and importation of various 3D computermodels described below.

As can be understood from FIG. 1B and FIGS. 9A and 9B, which arerespective transparent posterior and superior views of a 3D computergenerated model 1040 of the proximal femur 40 of FIG. 2A, in oneembodiment, the preoperative planning may begin with the femur model1040, a 3D computer generated sphere model 701, and a 3D computergenerated rod model 702 being imported into a modeling space [block1502]. As can be understood from FIGS. 9A and 9B, the femur model 1040,which is a result of the compiled or reconstructed contour lines, someof which may have been overestimated, may have a head 30, a neck 35, ashaft 51, a greater trochanter, and an medullary canal 170.

As indicated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the models 701, 702, 1040 are combinedtogether in a superpositioned arrangement. Specifically, the rod model702 may be positioned so that it generally aligns with the center of themedullary canal 170 of the shaft of the femur model 1040, whichgenerally corresponds to a central axis 100 of the shaft of the femur.In other words, the rod 702 may be positioned to be generally coaxialwith the femur axis 100.

The sphere model 701 may be positioned so the centers of the sphere 701and head 35 are located at the same point. The diameter of the spheremodel 701 may be increase or decreased to cause the sphere model 701 togenerally approximate the femoral head 30 such that the hemisphericalsurfaces of the head 30 and the sphere 701 are generally coextensive fora significant portion of the hemispherical surface of the head 30.Generally, if there is damage to the head 30, the damage is typically tothe superior and anterior surfaces, so the sphere 701 is typicallypositioned and sized such that hemispherical surface of the sphere 701is generally coextensive with the inferior and posterior regions of thehead 30. Once the sphere 701 is properly placed and sized, the center703 of the sphere 701 will generally approximate the center of the hipjoint. The proper positioning and sizing of the models 701, 702 can beverified by looking at both posterior (FIG. 9A) and superior (FIG. 9B)views.

As can be understood from FIG. 1B and FIG. 9C, which is the same view asFIG. 9B, except with a femoral component model 850 depicted with theother models 701, 702, 1040, a 3D computer generated femoral componentmodel 850 may be imported into the modeling space [block 1503]. Thefemoral component model 850 may include a shaft 804, a head 802 and aspacer region 801. The spacer region 801 may have a surface 803 thatabuts against the surface of the bone resection when the actual implantis properly and fully implanted in the resected femur. The 3D femoralcomponent model 850 may be selected from a database of femoral componentmodels, the models in the data base corresponding to the sizes offemoral components available from a selected manufacturer. Sizeselection is based on the shape and size of the medullary canal 170.Once the position of the neck resection has been determined, the largestcomponent that fits within the canal is chosen.

The sphere model 701 and rod model 702 are used to plan the properalignment and placement of the femoral component model 850.Specifically, the femoral component model 850 may be superimposed withthe rest of the models 701, 702, 1040 such that the long axis of theshaft 804 of the component 800 generally corresponds to the long axis ofthe rod 702 in a generally coaxial manner, and the center of the head802 of the component model 850 generally corresponds to the approximatedhip joint center 703. To properly position the component model 850, thesize and the shaft to neck angle of the spacer 801 may be adjustedaccording to the ranges available from the manufacturer for the femoralcomponent.

The above-described embodiment superimposes the sphere and rod models701, 702 on the femur model 1040 prior to superimposing the femoralcomponent model 850 and using the sphere and rod model locations toposition and size the femoral component model 850. However, in otherembodiments, the femoral component model 850 may be superimposed on thefemur model 1040 for positioning and sizing without the presence and useof the sphere and rod models 701, 702.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1B and 1C and FIG. 10, which is anisometric posterior view of the femoral model 1040 of FIG. 9C, exceptwith the other models 701, 702, 850 hidden for clarity purposes, a 3Dcomputer generated tool blank model 550 is generated [block 1504] andimported into the modeling space to be superpositioned with the femoralmodel 1040 to define the mating region 20 and saw guide 1725 in the toolblank model 550 [block 1505 and 1606]. In one embodiment for a posteriorapproach surgical procedure, the tool blank model 550 is positioned overthe posterior surface of the femur model 1040 such that: (1) thesurfaces of the femur model 1040 corresponding to the mating contactsurfaces 708, 710 and non-contact surfaces 718, 720 of the femur 40, asdiscussed in detail below with respect to FIG. 13, are covered by thetool 5; and (2) the head 30 of the femur model 1040 is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 11, which is a inferior-posterior isometric view ofwhat is depicted in FIG. 10, a distal portion 1750 of the tool blankmodel 550 may be removed to provide a non-contacting arrangement betweenthe resulting tool 5 and non-mating regions of the proximal femur 40,such as those regions near the greater trochanter 115.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1B and 1C and FIG. 12, which isgenerally the same view as FIG. 11, except the femoral component model850 is visible and the tool blank model 550 is now a customized toolmodel 603, once the tool blank model 550 is properly positioned on thefemur model 1040, the tool mating region 20 and saw guide 1725 may bedefined and imported into the tool blank model 550 to create the toolmodel 603 [block 1506 and block 1606]. Specifically, those matingcontact surfaces 708 a, 710 a and non-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 aof the tool mating region 20 that respectively correspond to the contactsurfaces 708, 710 and non-contact or overestimated surfaces 718, 720 ofthe femur 40 of FIG. 13 are identified on the surface of the femur model1040 and imported or otherwise used to define the contacting surfaces708 a, 710 a and non-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a in the matingregion of the tool blank model 550. As can be understood from FIG. 1B,in one embodiment, the contacting surfaces 708, 710 and non-contactingsurfaces 718, 720 of the femur model 1040 may be identified and definedas 3D surface models 537, 539 or other types of “data” that are importedinto the tool blank model 550 to create the contacting surfaces 708 a,710 a and non-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a in the mating region ofthe tool blank model 550 [block 1506].

As can be understood from FIG. 12, since the femoral component model 850is properly positioned in the femur model 1040 in a manner that ispredicted to give a desirable surgical outcome for the hip implantation,the surface 803 of the spacer region 801 of the component model 850 maybe coplanar to the resection plane 805 needed to allow the actualimplanted femoral component to achieve the implant positioning that willachieve the predicted desirable surgical outcome. In other words, thespacer region surface 803 will correspond to the position andorientation of the resection plane 805 when the component model 850 isproperly positioned in the femur model 1040. Thus, the position andorientation of the spacer region surface 803 may be used to define theposition and orientation of the resection plane 805 and, as can beunderstood from FIG. 1B, a resection plane model 538 or other types of“data” may be defined and imported into the tool blank model 550 todefine the saw guide 1725 in the tool blank model 550 [block 1506].Since the location and orientation of the surface models 539, 537 andplane model 538 may be referenced relative to each other due to thefemur, component and blank models 1040, 805, 550 being superimposed witheach other, the position and orientation relationships are maintained inthe resulting tool model 603 [block 1507]. Thus, for the resulting toolmodel 603 and tool 5 manufactured therefrom, the saw guide 1725 may bepositioned and oriented relative to the customized mating or indexingregion 20 such that, when the mating surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the matingregion 20 matingly contact the bone surfaces 708, 710 when the toolmating region 20 matingly receives therein the region of the femur 40having the bone surfaces 708, 710, the saw guide 1725 may be orientedover the femur neck 35 such that the saw guide 1725 corresponds with adesired resection plane 805 through the femoral neck 35 that wasidentified during the preoperative planning. In other words, the cavityor mating region 20 of the tool 5 conforms to the segmented CT scans orMRI scans, overestimated as necessary, of the patient's femur, and thesaw guide 1725 is positioned so as to result in a preoperatively plannedresection of the proximal femur when the tool mating region 20 matinglyengages the proximal femur and a sawing action is guided by the sawguide 1725.

Proper alignment of the saw slot 1725 with the preoperatively plannedresection plane exposes the femoral neck to provide a properly orientedsurface for proper alignment of the femoral component. A properlypositioned femoral component prevents or at least minimizes the chancesof several undesirable complications. For example, an improperlypositioned femoral component can cause a change of leg length,dislocation of the hip or perforation of the femur.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1A-1C, once the tool model 603 isdefined, the tool model 603 may be used to generate automatedmanufacturing instructions (e.g., tool paths, etc.). The tool model 603or automated manufacturing instructions are sent to the CNC machine 10from the preoperative planning system 6 [block 1508], and the actualtool 5 is manufactured from an actual tool blank 50 via the CNC machine10 [block 1608]. The finished tool 5 may be marked with patient data(e.g., name, hip identification, etc.), surgeon name, medical facilityname, or other information. The tool 5 may then be sterilized, packagedand sent to the surgeon [block 1610].

During surgery, the surgeon may fit the tool appropriately on the femurand, in one embodiment, drill into the hole 1715 of the fastener feature1710 at the top side 1755 of the tool and insert a fastening member 1716to stabilize the tool [block 1612]. In some embodiments, the tool 5 maybe held in place by the surgeon or other medical personnel. Oncepositioned, the surgeon may place a saw blade through the saw slot 1725and prepare to saw through the resection plane to make at least apartial head and neck resection [block 1614]. Once the resection is atleast partially complete, the tool may be discarded [block 1616]. Insome embodiments, the tool 5 may remain in place until the resection iscomplete.

The surgeon may then further prep the resected proximal femur and thenimplant the femoral component 800 in a manner that replicates thepreoperative planning such that the surface 803 abuts against theresection surface of the femur. As the size selection and positioning ofthe femoral component are determined via computer modeling during thepreoperative planning process, and the tool 5 is custom configured tofacilitate the preoperatively planned positioning of the femoralcomponent, the tool 5 disclosed herein facilitates HRS that issubstantially more likely to result in a positive surgical outcome forthe patient as compared to conventional methods that rely on x-rays,hand measuring techniques and surgeon visual assessment. In other words,the tool 5 decreases the risks commonly associated with an improperlyplaced femoral component in total hip replacement surgery, such asdislocation of the hip, a change in the length of the leg or perforationof the femur.

As the surgical planning is integrated into the tool 5 prior to the timeof surgery, the surgical time is substantially reduced because thesurgeon simply has to cause the tool 5 to engage the proximal femur, asopposed to determining the proper location for the resection based offof visual inspection at the time of surgery. Thus, the tool 5 aids thesurgeon in accurately and quickly placing the femoral component 800. Inother words, the tool 5 also decreases the risks associated with thelength of the surgical time, such as, infection, excessive bleeding,etc.

In one embodiment and to a greater or lesser extent, the above-describedPOP procedure is a manual process, wherein computer generated 3D models701, 702, 1040, 850 are manually manipulated relative to each other by aperson sitting in front of a computer 6 and visually observing the 3Dmodels 701, 702, 1040, 850 on the computer screen 9 and manipulating the3D models 701, 702, 1040, 850 via the computer controls 11. In otherembodiments and to a greater or lesser extent, the POP process isgenerally or completely automated. For example, a computer program maymanipulate computer generated 3D models 701, 702, 1040, 850 relative toeach other to preoperatively plan the tool 5. In some embodiments, theabove-described POP process may have portions that are generally manualwhile other portions that are generally automated.

VI. Candidate Contact and Non-Contact Surfaces of Proximal Femur

As described in detail above, the mating region 20 of the tool 5 may becustomized based on a patient's individual bone shape. The tool 5 may bemachined, molded or otherwise formed from the non-customized state asillustrated in FIGS. 2B-2E to a customized state as indicated in FIGS.2F-2H, based on a patient's individual bone scan, for example an MRIscan or CT-scan. For example, the bone scan data may be utilized togenerate a 3D computer generated model 1040 of the patient's proximalfemur 40. A 3D computer generated model 550 of the blank of the tool 5,the 3D femur model 1040, and 3D computer generated models of the implantcomponent 850, the sphere 701, and the rod 702 may be superimposed andaligned as described above to preoperatively plan the patient specifictool 5. That is, through the information received from the MRI scan orCT-scan and the computer modeling, the tool 5 may be customized at themating region 20 such that the tool 5 will have mating or indexingsurfaces 708 a, 710 a of the mating region 20 that generally conform tothe predetermined specific surface geometry of the patient's ownproximal femur 40. In some embodiments, the predetermined specificgeometry will be that of surfaces 708, 710 discussed with respect toFIG. 13, which is a posterior medial view of the proximal femur 40 ofFIG. 2A showing the surfaces 708, 710 of the femur 40 that are matedwith the index surfaces 708 a, 710 a of the tool mating region 20 andthe surfaces 718, 720 that correspond to over-estimated ornon-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool mating region 20.

In one embodiment, the femur mating region depicted in FIG. 13 may beapplicable to a posterior approach to help with stable positioning ofthe tool 5 on the femur 40. As shown in FIG. 13, a first mating surface708 covers portions of the posterior region of the neck 35, startingmedially between approximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mm after thecartilage covering the head 30 of the femur 40 terminates laterally andlaterally extends between approximately 15 mm and approximately 35 mm toor towards the trochanteric fossa 210. The inferior boundary of surface708 may terminate approximately 5 mm superior to the inferior borderbetween the posterior and anterior surfaces of the neck 35, or mayextend up to approximately 5 mm anterior past this border. The superiorboundary of mating surface 708 may extend approximately 0 mm toapproximately 5 mm posterior to the superior junction between theposterior surface and the anterior surface of the neck 35. A secondmating surface 710 may be a narrow band measuring between approximately0.5 mm and approximately 12 mm medial-lateral. The second mating surface710 may follow along the intertrochanteric crest 116. Mating surface 710may begin approximately 0 mm to approximately 12 mm superior to thelesser trochanter 740 and may extend approximately 0 mm to approximately18 mm inferior to the most superior tip 215 of the posterior surface ofthe greater trochanter 115. These mating surfaces 708, 710 of the femur40 may be used to define the mating contact surfaces 708 a, 710 a of thetool mating region 20 (see FIG. 2G) such that the tool contact surfaces708 a, 710 a may matingly contact the femur surfaces 708, 710 when thetool mating region 20 mating receives or engages the femur 40 asdepicted in FIG. 2H.

The non-mating surfaces 718, 720 of the femur 40, which are spanned in aspaced-apart or non-contacting arrangement by correspondingnon-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool mating region 20, asdepicted in FIG. 2H, are also depicted in FIG. 13. A first non-matingsurface 718 may include portions of the posterior greater trochanter 115and extend superior-inferior adjacent the intertrochanteric crest 116.The medial boundary of the first non-mating surface 718 may be thesecond mating surface 710, and may extend medial-lateral approximately 0mm to approximately 12 mm. The second non-mating surface 20 may spanportions of the trochanteric fossa 210, and may have a medial boundarythat is the first mating surface 708 and a lateral boundary that is thesecond mating surface 710, and a medial-lateral width that may varybetween approximately 0 mm and approximately 20 mm. Both the firstnon-mating surface 718 and the second non-mating surface 720 may haveinferior-superior dimensions similar to the first mating surface 708 andthe second mating surface 710.

As discussed in detail above, during segmentation, contour line portionscorresponding to non-mating surfaces 718, 720 and osteophytes may beoverestimated (e.g., moved outward from the interior of the bone andsmoothed) such that portions of the tool mating region 20 definedaccording to those overestimated contour line portions areover-machined, ensuring that little or no contact occurs between theresulting non-mating surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool mating region 20(see FIG. 2G) and the corresponding non-mating surfaces 718, 720 of thebone when the tool mating region 20 matingly receives the region of thefemur 40 having the non-mating surfaces 718, 720, as shown in FIG. 2H.

As just discussed with respect to FIG. 13, in one embodiment, the femur40 may include contact surfaces 708, 710 and non-contact surfaces 718,720 such that a tool 5 configured for a posterior approach may have amating region 20 configured to have corresponding mating contactsurfaces 708 a, 710 a and non-contacting surfaces 718 a, 720 a, asindicated in FIGS. 2G and 2H. In other embodiments, the tool matingregion 20 may be such that the mating contact and non-contact surfacesof the tool mating region 20 are configured to correspond to mating andnon-contact surfaces of other regions of the femur 40 as described belowwith respect to FIGS. 14A-14B, 15 and 16A-16B.

As shown in FIGS. 14A-14B, which are, respectively, posterior andanterior views of the proximal femur 40, the mating region of the femur40 may be appropriate for a posterior or anteriorlateral surgicalapproach. For example, the mating region of the femur 40 may includemating surfaces 700 a, 701 a, 702 a, 704 a. As can be understood fromFIG. 2I, which is a view similar to FIG. 2G, except of a tool matingregion 20 configured to matingly engage the mating surfaces 700 a, 701a, 702 a, 704 a depicted in FIGS. 14A-14B, the mating surfaces 700 a,701 a, 702 a, 704 a of the femur 40 may be matingly contacted bycorresponding mating or index contact surfaces 700 b, 701 b, 702 b, 704b of the tool mating region 20 to help stabilize the positioning of thetool 5 on the femur 40. In other words, like the tool mating region 20depicted in FIG. 2G is configured to matingly engage the mating surfacesof the femur 40 depicted in FIG. 13, the tool mating region 20 depictedin FIG. 2I is configured to matingly engage the mating surfaces of thefemur 40 depicted in FIGS. 14A-14B.

As indicated in FIGS. 14A-14B, a first mating surface 700 a includesportions of the posterior region 724 of the neck 35, having a medialstarting point between approximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mm afterthe cartilage covering the femoral head 30 terminates laterally andextends laterally between approximately 15 mm and approximately 35 mm toor towards the trochanteric fossa 210. The inferior border of the firstmating surface 700 a begins approximately midway superiorly-inferiorlyalong the intertrochanteric crest 116, and follows the long axis of theneck 35. The superior border of the first mating surface 700 a isbetween approximately 1 mm and approximately 3 mm below the superiorjunction 728 between the posterior and anterior surfaces of the neck 35.A second mating surface 701 a has approximately the same medial-lateralwidth as section 700 a, but may terminate before the tubercle 730 of thefemur 40. The superior border of the second mating surface 701 a isapproximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm below the superior junction 728between the posterior and anterior surfaces of the neck 35. Theinferior-superior distance of second mating surface 701 a is between 5and 10 mm. A third mating surface 702 a is a narrow band, measuringgenerally medial-lateral between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately8 mm, that follows along the intertrochanteric crest 116. Mating surface702 a begins approximately midway superior-inferior along theintertrochanteric crest 116 and may extend any length greater thanapproximately 5 mm to or towards the most superior tip 215 of theposterior surface of the greater trochanter 115. A fourth mating surface704 a lies on the anterior greater trochanter 115, lateral to thetubercle 730 of the femur 40, and inferior to the origin of theobturator internus 732. The medial-lateral distance of mating surface704 a measures between approximately 3 mm to approximately 14 mm, andits inferior-superior distance measures between approximately 3 mm toapproximately 10 mm.

As indicated in FIGS. 14A-14B, mating surfaces 700 a, 701 a, 702 a, 704a may be separated by non-mating surfaces 712, 714, 716 that are spannedby and correspond respectively with non-contacting surfaces 22, 24, 26of the mating region 20 of the tool 5 (see FIG. 2I). A first non-matingsurface 712 may include portions of the tubercle 730 of the femur 40. Asecond non-mating surface 714 may span portions of the trochantericfossa 210. A third non-mating surface 716 may contain the superiorjunction 728 between the posterior and anterior surfaces of the neck 35,and may be between approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mmanterior-posterior. In a manner similar to that described above withrespect to the non-contact surfaces 718 a, 720 a of the tool matingregion 20 depicted in FIGS. 2G-2H, during segmentation, contour lineportions corresponding to non-mating surfaces 712, 714, 716 may beoverestimated (e.g., moved outward from the interior of the bone andsmoothed) such that portions of the tool mating region 20 definedaccording to those overestimated contour line portions areover-machined, ensuring that little or no contact occurs between theresulting non-mating surfaces 22, 24, 26 of the tool mating region 20(see FIG. 2I) and the corresponding non-mating surfaces 712, 714, 716 ofthe femur 40 when the tool mating region 20 matingly receives the regionof the bone having the non-mating surfaces 712, 714, 716.

FIG. 15, which is an isometric posterior view of the proximal femur 40,illustrates yet another mating region of the femur 40 that may be usedto define the mating region 20 of another embodiment of the tool 5. Ascan be understood from FIG. 15 and FIG. 2J, which is the same view as2G, except of a tool 5 with a mating region 20 configured to matinglyengage the mating region of the femur 40 depicted in FIG. 15 instead ofthe mating region of the femur 40 depicted in FIG. 13, the tool matingregion 20 may be adapted to receive therein and mate with surfaces ofthe proximal femur 40, such as, for example, the posterior region 37 ofthe neck 35, a medial posterior surface 38 of the greater trochanter 115between the intertrochanteric crest 116 and trochanteric fossa 118, anda region 39 that is part of the lateral posterior greater trochanter 115and the lateral posterior body of the femur bordering the lateral sideof the intertrochanteric crest 116. More specifically, the matingsurface 37 may cover portions of the posterior region of the neck 35,starting medially between approximately 1 mm and approximately 5 mmafter the cartilage covering the head 30 of the femur 40 terminateslaterally and laterally extends between approximately 15 mm andapproximately 35 mm to or towards the trochanteric fossa 118. Region 38may be a band, extending from the lesser trochanter 740 to the anteriorsurface of the femur, and ranging in width from between approximately 0mm to approximately 14 mm. The medial border of region 38 is thetrochanteric fossa 118 and the lateral border is approximately theintertrochanteric crest 116. Region 39 begins medially at approximatelythe crest 116, and may extend from 0 mm to approximately the edge of theposterior surface of the femur 40. The inferior/superior length ofregion 39 may be 0 mm, or may extend from the lesser trochanter 740 tothe superior border of the posterior surface of the femur 40.

The surfaces 37, 38, 39, which are to be mated or indexed by the toolindex surfaces 101, 102, 103 of the mating region 20 of the tool 5, maybe separated by areas of non-mating surfaces 110, 111 that are spannedby overestimated or non-contacting surfaces 22, 24 of the mating region20 of the tool 5. The non-contacting surfaces 22, 24 of the matingregion 20 of the tool 5 do not contact the corresponding non-matingsurfaces 110, 111 of the femur 40 and may be generated via anover-estimating process during image segmentation. The non-matingsurfaces 110, 111 of the proximal femur 40 may be portions 111 of thetrochanteric fossa 118 (i.e., the depression between the greatertrochanter and the femur neck) and portions 110 of the intertrochantericcrest 116. More specifically, the non-mating surface or portion 111 mayspan portions of the trochanteric fossa 118, and may have a medialboundary that is the mating surface 37 and a lateral boundary that isthe mating surface 38, and a medial-lateral width that may vary betweenapproximately 0 mm and approximately 20 mm. Non-mating surface orportion 110 may be a band including the intertrochanteric crest 116, andmay extend from the lesser trochanter 740 to the most superior point ofthe greater trochanter 115. The medial-lateral width of the surface 110may be from approximately 0 mm to approximately 12 mm. Generally, anysurface of mating region 20 that is outside of tool mating surfaces 101,102, 103 (which correspond to femur mating surfaces 37, 38, 39,respectively) may be tool non-contacting surfaces 22, 24, whichcorrespond, respectively to femur non-contacting surfaces 110,111.

As can be understood from FIG. 15, the tool may be placed on the femur40 such that the mating region 20 of the tool 5 covers and matinglyreceives the femur area encompassing the mating surfaces 37, 38, 39 andnon-mating surfaces 110, 111 of the proximal femur 40. As discussedabove, non-mating regions 110, 111, including portions of thetrochanteric fossa 118 (the depression between the greater trochanterand the neck of femur) and the intertrochanteric crest 116, are noteasily estimated due to drastic changes in surface geometry, andcorresponding non-mating surfaces 22, 24 of the mating region 20 of thetool 5 do not contact these surfaces 110, 111 when the region of thefemur that includes the femur mating surfaces 37, 38, 39 and non-matingsurfaces 22, 24 are matingly received by the mating region 20 of thetool 5.

In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 16A-16B, the mating region ofthe femur 40 may be configured for use with any surgical approach, and,in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2G-2Hand 13 and FIGS. 2I and 14A-14B, the tool mating region 20 may beconfigured to matingly engage the mating region of the femur 40 asdepicted in FIGS. 16A-16B. As illustrated in FIGS. 16A-16B, a firstmating surface 706 of the femur 40 may include the entire or any portionof the circumferential surface 734 of the neck 35. On the posteriorsurface, the mating surface 706 may start medially between approximately1 mm and approximately 5 mm after the cartilage covering the head 30 ofthe femur 40 terminates laterally and extend laterally up toapproximately 8 mm past the intertrochanteric crest 116, extending alongthe intertrochanteric crest 116 from the lesser trochanter 740 to ortowards the tip 215 of the greater trochanter 115. On the anteriorsurface, the mating surface 706 may start medially between approximately1 mm and approximately 5 mm after the cartilage covering the head 30 ofthe femur 40 terminates laterally and extend laterally up toapproximately 8 mm laterally past the intertrochanteric line 738. Thesurface 706 may also contain the medial surface of the greatertrochanter 115. As discussed above, portions within the mating surface706 may be overestimated if geometry is too erratic for the surface tobe accurately captured with the CT scan. Some such areas may include thetrochanteric fossa 210, the superior junction 728 between the posteriorand anterior surfaces of the neck 35, and the tubercle 730.

As can be understood from the preceding discussion regarding FIGS.13-16B, the configuration of the mating region 20 of the tool 5 may bedetermined from and correspond to the specific surface geometry ortopography of the surface of the femur 40 that corresponds to thesurgical approach for which the tool 5 is being designed. Thus, in someembodiments, the tool mating region 20 may be configured to have thecontact and non-contact surfaces that correspond to at least some, ifnot all, of the contact and non-contact surfaces of the femur matingregion discussed above with respect to FIG. 13. In other embodiments,the tool mating region 20 may be configured to have the contact andnon-contact surfaces that correspond to at least some, if not all, ofthe contact and non-contact surfaces of the femur mating regiondiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 14A-14B. In yet other embodiments,the tool mating region 20 may be configured to have the contact andnon-contact surfaces that correspond to at least some, if not all, ofthe contact and non-contact surfaces of the femur mating regiondiscussed above with respect to FIG. 15. In still other embodiments, thetool mating region 20 may be configured to have the contact andnon-contact surfaces that correspond to at least some, if not all, ofthe contact and non-contact surfaces of the femur mating regiondiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 16A-16B. Thus, regardless of thesurgical approach used and the mating region of the femur 40encountered, the tool mating region 20 may be based off of the medicalimaging scans take of the femur 40 and preoperatively planned via 3Dcomputer generated models to have a customized engagement with the femur40 when applied to the femur to guide a resection in a THR. Thearrangement between the customized mating region 20 of the tool 5 andthe saw guide 1725 may be such that when the mating region 20 matinglyreceives the mating region of the femur 40, the saw guide 1725 may causea resection procedure guided by the guide 1725 to create apreoperatively planned resection of the femur 40.

While the above disclosed embodiments of a arthroplasty tool 5 orsurgical guide tool 5 are described in the context of a tool 5 for usein a total hip replacement procedure, the features, methods ofdetermining proper placement of the prosthetic device and the matingsurfaces and the generation thereof disclosed herein may be equallyuseful and applicable for use in total arthroplasty procedures in otherjoint contexts. Thus, the disclosure provided herein should beconsidered as encompassing tools and the generation thereof for anytotal arthroplasty procedures.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing a proximal femur of apatient for implantation of a femoral implant as part of a total hiparthroplasty procedure, the method comprising: a) preoperativelyplanning the total hip arthroplasty procedure on the proximal femur ofthe patient, the preoperative planning including: i) selecting a threedimensional computer model of the femoral implant from a computerdatabase of three dimensional computer models of candidate femoralimplants based on a comparison of attributes of a three dimensionalcomputer model of the proximal femur and the three dimensional computermodels of the candidate femoral implants; ii) aligning in a computercoordinate system the three dimensional computer model of the femoralimplant with the three dimensional computer model of the proximal femurin a desired postoperative relationship for the total hip arthroplastyprocedure; and ii) computer defining a resection of the proximal femurin the computer coordinate system when the three dimensional computermodel of the femoral implant is aligned in the computer coordinatesystem with the three dimensional computer model of the proximal femur;and b) resecting the proximal femur of the patient according to thecomputer defined resection.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theattributes comprise sizes of the proximal femur and candidate femoralimplants.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein computer defining theresection of the proximal femur includes defining the resection tocorrespond to a location of a spacer region of the three dimensionalcomputer model of the femoral implant when the three dimensionalcomputer model of the femoral implant and the three dimensional computermodel of the proximal femur are aligned in the desired postoperativerelationship for the total hip arthroplasty procedure.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising physically registering the computer definedresection of the proximal femur with the proximal femur of the patient.5. The method of claim 4, further comprising computer defining aregistration location on a surface of the three dimensional computermodel of the proximal femur; and computer referencing the computerdefined resection of the proximal femur to the computer definedregistration location.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein physicallyregistering the computer defined resection of the proximal femur withthe proximal femur of the patient further includes: physicallycontacting the proximal femur of the patient at a location on a surfaceof the proximal femur of the patient that corresponds to the computerdefined registration location on the surface of the three dimensionalcomputer model of the proximal femur.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinphysically contacting the proximal femur of the patient includes:causing a custom mating region of a jig to matingly contact the proximalfemur of the patient at the location on the surface of the proximalfemur of the patient that corresponds to the computer definedregistration location on the surface of the three dimensional computermodel of the proximal femur.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein thecomputer defined registration location is on at least on a posteriorneck of the three dimensional computer model of the proximal femur. 9.The method of claim 5, wherein the computer defined registrationlocation is on at least on a posterior neck of the three dimensionalcomputer model of the proximal femur and a posterior greater trochanterof the three dimensional computer model of the proximal femur.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the computer defined registration location isnot on a trochanteric fossa of the three dimensional computer model ofthe proximal femur.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the computerdefined registration location is also at least on a posteriorintertrochanteric crest of the three dimensional computer model of theproximal femur.
 12. The method of claim 5, wherein the computer definedregistration location is at least on a posterior greater trochanter ofthe three dimensional computer model of the proximal femur.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the computer defined registration locationon the posterior greater trochanter of the three dimensional computermodel of the proximal femur includes a portion laterally adjacent aposterior intertrochanteric crest of the three dimensional computermodel of the proximal femur.
 14. The method of claim 5, wherein thecomputer defined registration location is on at least on an anteriorneck of the three dimensional computer model of the proximal femur. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the computer defined registrationlocation is not on a superior junction between a posterior and anteriorsurface of a neck of the three dimensional computer model of theproximal femur.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer definedregistration location is not on an inferior junction between a posteriorand anterior surface of a neck of the three dimensional computer modelof the proximal femur.
 17. The method of claim 5, wherein the computerdefined registration location is on at least on an anterior neck of thethree dimensional computer model of the proximal femur and an anteriorgreater trochanter of the three dimensional computer model of theproximal femur.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the computer definedregistration location is not on a tubercle of the three dimensionalcomputer model of the proximal femur.
 19. The method of claim 5, whereinthe computer defined registration location is at least on an anteriorgreater trochanter of the three dimensional computer model of theproximal femur.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer definedregistration location on the anterior greater trochanter of the threedimensional computer model of the proximal femur includes a portionlateral to a tubercle of the three dimensional computer model of theproximal femur.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer definedregistration location on the anterior greater trochanter of the threedimensional computer model of the proximal femur includes a portioninferior to an origin of an obturator internus of the three dimensionalcomputer model of the proximal femur.
 22. The method of claim 5, whereinthe computer referencing of the computer defined resection of theproximal femur to the computer defined registration location is donesuch that a position of the computer defined resection relative to thecomputer defined registration location is reflective of a position of anactual resection to be made in the proximal femur of the patient duringthe arthroplasty procedure and according to the preoperative plan. 23.The method of claim 22, further comprising contacting the proximal femurat a location corresponding to the registration location of the threedimensional computer model of the femur, thereby enabling guidance ofthe actual resection in the femur according the preoperative plan. 24.The method of claim 1, further comprising guiding a surgeon in resectingthe proximal femur of the patient according to the computer definedresection.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the guiding comprisesrestraining bone removal to a region in the proximal femur of thepatient corresponding to the computer defined resection.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein the restraining is provided by a slot of anarthroplasty jig matingly contacting the proximal femur.
 27. The methodof claim 1, further comprising compiling the computer defined resectionof the bone into the form of computer data and transmitting the computerdata to a machine that cuts according to the computer data.
 28. Themethod of claim 27, wherein the cutting machine comprises a CNC machinethat cuts according to the computer data to define a resection slot inan arthroplasty jig.